Loose leaf binder



March 9, lv1965 s. l.. GOLDMAN 3,172,409

Loose LEAF BINDER Filed March 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 N VEN TOR. .52W/aia l, 6am/)74W March 9, 1965 s. L. GOLDMAN LOOSE LEAF BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1963 l INVENTOR. ,Aki/afa 6am/mw ifm/Wad United States Patent O 3,172,409 LOOSE LEAF BINDER Sanford L. Goldman, 129 W. Walnut St., Long Beach, NX. Filed Mar. 1S, 1963, Ser. No. 265,620 2 Claims. (Cl. 129-25) This invention relates to loose leaf binders, and particularly to the construction of the front cover section.

Serious diliculties have been experienced in storing, shipping and transporting component parts of loose leaf binders for later assemblage by the user. When the front cover section includes a strip of paper or the like folded over one edge of a transparent plastic sheet and attached thereto by prong-type fastener elements, the flaps or folded panels of the strip tend to spread apart and tear or become mutilated due to shifting of or contact with adjacent front cover sections. This is particularly the case when an appreciable number of these cover sections are stacked up and stored or sold in bulk to large users of the binders for subsequent assemblage by a secretary who selects the front and rear cover sections from stacked-up stock and places them together. The multilation and tearing of these front cover sections represents an economic loss which the present invention is designed to overcome.

In accordance with the invention, the flap of the paper strip which is folded over the edge of the front cover sheet is provided with flexible paper tabs at locations overlying and immediately adjacent the free end portions of the fastener prongs. These flexible tabs are formed from the sides of rectangular-shaped slots which are cut out from this particular flap at the locations of the prongs and are of the same stock as the flap. This novel construction enables the prongs to be bent over the tabs by a simple manipulation, thereby firmly holding the foldedover strip compactly against the under side of the cover sheet'. Any subsequent stacking of the front cover sections, for storage or transportation will not cause mutilation or tearing of the paper strip due to shifting of the adjacently stacked cover sections relative to one another.

A feature of the novel construction of the front cover section is that the cover sheet, preferably a transparent plastic sheet, is devoid of folds, and the folding of the paper strip takes place over the free edge of the cover sheet, thereby enabling the use of relatively unskilled help in the manufacture of the cover section. The elimination for the need of a scored plastic sheet simplifies the design and method of manufacture, and appreciably reduces the cost and expense of manufacture.

A detailed description of the invention follows in conjunction with a drawing, wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the front cover section, as seen from the under side of the transparent plastic cover sheet, with the scored paper strip unfolded in order to show in detail the shape of the die-cut paper strip with its rectangular-shaped slots and associated tabs and the score or fold lines thereof, prior to the time the paper strip is folded to assume the positions shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 6;

FIGURE 2 illustrates one step in the process of folding the paper strip of the front cover section, as seen in FIGURE 1, over the long edge of the plastic cover sheet;

FIGURE 3 shows the paper strip completely folded over the cover sheet and the prongs positioned over the tabs to hold the flap of the paper strip firmly and compactly against and adjacent the under side of the cover sheet;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of one end of FIGURE 3 and shows the manner in which each set of prongs is positioned above its associated tab to rmly hold the paper strip against the cover sheet;

lYZAg Patented Mar. 9, 1965 FIGURE 5 is an end view of the front cover section of the invention in association with a rear cover section when combined to form a complete loose leaf binder; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View of a complete loose leaf binder employing the front cover section of the invention.

The flaps of the paper strip in FIGURES 5 and 6 are shown in exaggerated form to be bulging, in the interest of clarity, though in actual use the flaps are very flat as shown in the constructions of FIGURES 3 and 4.

Throughout the figures of the drawing, the same parts are represented by the same reference characters.

The front cover sectionof the loose leaf binder, in accordance with the invention, includes a light-weight transparent flexible plastic sheet 10 of rectangular shape,

devoid of folds, joined to a paper strip 12 on the top surface thereof by means of the heads of spaced metallic prong fasteners. Each fastener has a round fastener head 14 of the crimped edge type and a pair of prongs or legs 16 for insertion into the holes of the pages to be held by the binder and the holes in the rear cover. Such fasteners are known in the trade by the trademark Duo-Tang. The transparent light-weight sheet 10 may be made out of cellophane, acetate or the like and has a thickness sufficient to provide adequate resistance to wear and tear. For example, the sheet thickness may be about .01 inch. The sheet 10 has three spaced holes punched through it near the left edge at the locations of attachment thereto of the heads of the three metallic prong fasteners.

The paper strip 12 is made of relatively stiff paper and is scored along two fold lines 18 to provide three flaps 7, 8 and 9. The width of flaps '7 and 8 are equal and slightly greater than the width of flap 9. The flaps 7 in its folded-over position shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is in juxtaposition With and makes contact with the under face of the transparent cover sheet 10. Flap 7 of the paper strip 12 is provided with three die-cut spaced slots 20 of rectangular shape each provided with a flexible paper tab 22 formed by the sides of the rectangularshaped slots. These tabs are part of the paper strip 12 and integral therewith.

The slots 2tl are precisely located so that they cover substantially only those portions of the prongs which are nearest to the round heads 14 of the fasteners, while the tabs 22 cover the area coextensive with only the free end portions of the prongs 16.

The rear cover section 24 is made from relatively stiff paper and has a narrow flap portion 26 at its left edge folded inwards along the fold line 28. The flap portion 26 is provided with three spaced holes which register with the end portions of the slots nearest the heads 14 of the prong fasteners in the front cover section. If desired, the flap 26 of the rear cover section may be provided with three spaced metallic eyelets in the form of metallic rings whose edges are crimped over the aforesaid holes.

In the process of manufacturing the front cover section, with particular reference to the showing of FIG- URE l, the straight edge of the plastic sheet 10 is lined up by the operator with the straight edge of the paper strip 12 during the assemblage operation. This alignment is a simple operation for unskilled help. Both superimposed parts are then inserted into a machine for attaching the fasteners thereto. The paper strip 12 is die-cut to provide the slots 20 and tabs 22 and also scored to provide fold lines before the strip is placed on top of the cover sheet 10. After the prong fasteners have been attached to the strip and cover sheet, the paper strip is folded from the outside in the manner shown in FIGURES 2 to 4.

The precise locations of the slots 20 are important because they enable the correspondingly positioned sets of prongs 16 to pass through the respective slots and overlay the tabs 22; thus firmly holding the paper strip 12v compactly in positionwith all of the flaps 7, 8' and 9 at and with the flap 7 over its entire length in contact with the underside of transparent plastic sheet l0. To position the tabs under the prongs, the prongs are first bent slightly outwards by the operator, then the tabs are pressed inwardly under the prongs, and finally the prongs are bent to return to their original straight line or planar position. Thisoperation is very simple and fast, after which the front cover sections as shown in FIG. 3 can be stacked up one` on topof the` other for storage and/r transportation without any fear of mutilation or `tearing due to shifting of adjacent front cover sections in a stack.

The front cover section with its associated paper strip 12, as seen in FIGURES 5 and 6, is neat and attractive and shows no visible indication of the fastener construction from the outside of the loose leaf binder. The rear view of the rear paper cover section also shows no sign of the fastener construction. The result is a highly attractive, simpler and cheaper loose leaf binder.

What is claimed is:

1. A front cover for a loose leaf binder, of the type which is provided with a plurality of spaced prong fasteners', each fastener of which has a head and two liat prongs extending from said head and adapted to enter into a correspondingly positioned hole in the pages to be held by said binder, said front cover` comprising a rectangular-shaped'cover sheet devoid of folds andsuperimposed on one fa-ce thereof a rectangular-shaped flexible strip having the same length as said cover sheet but having a width considerably less than the width of the cover sheet, said strip having one long edge aligned with one long edge of said cover sheet and attached thereto adjacent said one long edge by the heads of said prongfasteners, said 'strip having a pair of spaced fold lines which are parallel to said long edge to provide three relatively narrow flaps of substantially the same width, said fasteners being within the confines of that one flap which is nearest said long edge; characterized in that said flap which is farthest removed from said long edge has a plurality of spaced rectangular-shaped slots cut out therefrom with the long sides of said slots extending parallel to said long edge within the contines and intermediate the edges of the flap, the number of said slots corresponding to the number of said prong fasteners and the positions of said slots beingV such that when said last ap is folded over the said long edge of said plastic sheet they extend lengthwise beyond the v 4, y free ends of said prongs but not Yover said heads, each of said slotsv being provided at one end with a tab of the same stock as said strip and made from extensions of the long sides of theY slotand of a lengthcoextensive with only the free end portion of the correspondingly positioned prongs.

2. A loose leaf binder comprising a rectangular-shaped transparent front plastic cover devoid of folds, a rectangular-shaped flexible paper strip having the same length as said plastic cover and having a width considerably less than the width of said plastic cover superimposed on'one .fa-ce of saidcoverwith onetlong edge of the paper strip aligned with a long edge of said plastic cover, said flexible strip having a pair of spaced fold lines which are parallel to the long edge thereof to provide three relatively, narrow aps'of substantially the same width, spaced fasteners affixed to both the strip and plasticV cover along the length thereof near said long edge and withinthe confines of that one flap which is nearest said-long edge, each of 'said fasteners having an afxing head and a pair of flat prongs extending from said head with said prongs extending parallel to said long edge and lying `fiat on said cover on the side opposite said one flap, said strip having spaced rectangular-shaped slots cut out therefrom along the length thereofwithin the confines and intermediate the edges of that flap which is farthest removed from said long edge, said flaps being folded such ythat only said last flap folds over said long edge and is in juxtaposition with said plastic cover and extends beyond the prongs of said fasteners on the other face of said plastic cover, the number of said slots corresponding to the number of said fasteners, `andsaid slots being so positioned that in the folded position of said last flap said slots extend lengthwise beyond the free ends of said prongs but not over said heads, whereby said last ap conceals the heads of said fasteners, artab in each of said slots of the sarne stock as saidstrip and having a length coextensive with only the free end portions of the correspondingly positioned prongs before the prongs of each fastener are spread apart.

References Cited` by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS v2,339,411 l/44 Kern 2li-153 2,339,412 l/44 )Kern 24-153 2,480,917 9/49 i Goldman 129--1 2,725,881 12/55 Goldman 129-25 3,009,465 ll/6l Smith 129-1 JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FRONT COVER FOR A LOOSE LEAF BINDER, OF THE TYPE WHICH IS PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED PRONG FASTENERS, EACH FASTENER OF WHICH HAS A HEAD AND TWO FLAT PRONGS EXTENDING FROM SAID HEAD AND ADAPTED TO ENTER INTO A CORRESPONDINGLY POSITIONED HOLE IN THE PAGES TO BE HELD BY SAID BINDER, SAID FRONT COVER COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR-SHAPED COVER SHEET DEVOID OF FOLDS AND SUPERIMPOSED ON ONE FACE THEREOF A RECTANGULAR-SHAPED FLEXIBLE STRIP HAVING THE SAME LENGTH AS SAID COVER SHEET BUT HAVING A WIDTH CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF THE COVER SHEET, SAID STRIP HAVING ONE LONG EDGE ALIGNED WITH ONE LONG EDGE OF SAID COVER SHEET AND ATTACHED THERETO ADJACENT SAID ONE LONG EDGE BY THE HEADS OF SAID PRONG FASTENERS, SAID STRIP HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED FOLD LINES WHICH ARE PARALLEL TO SAID LONG EDGE TO PROVIDE THREE RELATIVELY NARROW FLAPS OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME WIDTH, SAID FASTENERS BEING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THAT ONE FLAP WHICH IS NEAREST SAID LONG EDGE; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT SAID FLAP WHICH IS FARTHEST REMOVED FROM SAID LONG EDGE HAS A PLURALITY OF SPACED RECTANGULAR-SHAPED SLOTS CUT OUT THEREFROM WITH THE LONG SIDES OF SAID SLOTS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID LONG EDGE WITHIN THE CONFINES AND INTERMEDIATE THE EDGES OF THE FLAP, THE NUMBER OF SAID SLOTS CORRESPONDING TO THE NUMBER OF SAID PRONG FASTENERS AND THE POSITIONS OF SAID SLOTS BEING SUCH THAT WHEN SAID LAST FLAP IS FOLDED OVER THE SAID LONG EDGE OF SAID PLASTIC SHEET THEY EXTEND LENGTHWISE BEYOND THE FREE ENDS OF SAID PRONGS BUT NOT OVER SAID HEADS, EACH OF SAID SLOTS BEING PROVIDED AT ONE END WITH A TAB OF THE SAME STOCK AS SAID STRIP AND MADE FROM EXTENSIONS OF THE LONG SIDES OF THE SLOT AND OF A LENGTH COEXTENSIVE WITH ONLY THE FREE END PORTION OF THE CORRESPONDINGLY POSITIONED PRONGS. 